The Tricolors are looking for a rematch with Bosnia and the road to the 2026 World Cup play-off

The national team's road to next year's World Cup has an important stop in Bosnia. Romania will play tomorrow (9:45 PM) against Bosnia-Herzegovina, at the "Bilino Polje" Stadium in Zenica, and on Tuesday, November 18 (9:45 PM) it will face the San Marino national team, at the "Ilie Oană" Stadium in Ploieşti, these being the tricolors' last matches in the groups. The battle for second place is very important, a "play-off" coming on the route of the preliminary groups ensures an easier route compared to the one obtained thanks to the course in the Nations League. Theoretically, the fight for first position is also open, but in practice Austria has the first chance. For this double, coach Mircea Lucescu announced a squad consisting of 13 foreign players and 13 other footballers who play in the Romanian first league. The squad is as follows: goalkeepers - Ionuţ Radu (Celta Vigo/Spain, 6/0), Ştefan Târnovanu (FCSB, 3/0), Marian Aioani (FC Rapid Bucureşti, debutant); defenders - Andrei Raţiu (Rayo Vallecano/Spain, 34/1), Deian Sorescu (Gaziantep FK/Turkey, 23/0), Virgil Ghiţă (Hannover 96/Germany, 6/1), Bogdan Racoviţan (Rakow Czestochowa/Poland, 4/0), Adrian Rus (University of Craiova, 22/1), Lisav Eissat (Maccabi Haifa/Israel, 1/0), Nicuşor Bancu (University of Craiova, 49/2), Alexandru Chipciu (University of Cluj, 48/6); midfielders - Marius Marin (Pisa/Italy, 34/0), Vladimir Screciu (University of Craiova, 5/0), Răzvan Marin (AEK Athens/Greece, 70/12), Vlad Dragomir (FC Pafos/Cyprus, 3/0), Ianis Hagi (Alanyaspor/Turkey, 49/7), Florin Tănase (FCSB, 24/5), Darius Olaru (FCSB, 26/0), Dennis Man (PSV Eindhoven/Netherlands, 41/10), David Miculescu (FCSB, 5/0), Valentin Mihăilă (Caykur Rizespor/Turkey, 32/5), Ştefan Baiaram (University of Craiova, 1/0), Claudiu Petrila (FC Rapid Bucharest, 1/0); forwards - Denis Drăguş (Eyupspor/Turkey, 26/7), Daniel Bîrligea (FCSB, 5/1), Louis Munteanu (CFR Cluj, 3/1).

The Romanian striker Denis Drăguş stated for the FRF YouTube channel that the Romanian national team undeservedly lost the match in Bucharest against Bosnia-Herzegovina and that the "tricolors' have to take revenge in the return match in Zenica: "I think we undeservedly lost the match with Bosnia in Bucharest, because we had many opportunities and I think we have a revenge to take now in Zenica. I hope to play and be able to help my team, regardless of whether I score a goal or not. It's an extraordinary feeling to score for the national team and I hope to continue in the same trend. A nice group has been created in the national team, we all want to be with the others, as each one can, from the stands, from the bench, from anywhere. For us, those of us who were injured, it was important to be with the other tricolors. We depend on Austria's results, but it's football and anything can happen. We have seen so many scenarios and until the last match is played we have to to believe, until the end. We have to win our matches because anything can happen. I think in the minds of each of us there is this idea of participating in the World Cup, like qualifying, being there. It is important to believe first and foremost and to talk about it”.

The 2026 edition of the World Cup will be hosted by three countries: the United States of America, Mexico and Canada. The winners of the 12 preliminary groups qualify directly, while the second-placed teams together with the 4 best group winners from the Nations League will be divided by drawing lots and will play two play-off games (semi-finals and finals) to determine the last 4 qualified European national teams. Austria is in first place in the group, with 15 points, followed by Bosnia-Herzegovina, 13 points, Romania, 10 points, Cyprus, 8 points, San Marino, 0 points.